A new structural component of the Milky Way

The European Southern Observatory (ESO) announced the discovery of a previously unknown component of the Milky Way - the disk of young stars, hidden behind thick dust clouds.

The discovery was made in the course of mapping the stars provisions relating to the type Cepheids - the class of pulsating variable stars with a fairly accurate period-luminosity dependence. The observations were made using a wide-angle telescope VISTA, where multiple images are obtained of the central regions of the galaxy in the infrared wavelength range.

By studying the data collected, astronomers have found 655 candidates Cepheids - these stars pulsate periodically, ie, expand and contract, and significantly change their luster. The cycle of these changes range from a few days to several months.

In bright pulsation period of Cepheids is greater than that of the weak. This relation between period and luminosity of the star, opened in 1908, performed with great precision. This fact makes the observations of Cepheids one of the most effective ways to measure the distance to distant objects in the Milky Way and beyond, and to map the areas where these facilities are located.
This Cepheids are divided into two main classes, the stars of one of which is much younger than the other stars. Examining a sample of 655 stars, the astronomers determined that 35 of them belong to a subclass of classical Cepheids - bright young stars that are very different from the usual, much of old the inhabitants of the bulge (central spherical subsystem) of the Milky Way.

After analyzing the information about the brightness and the pulsation period of Cepheids these classic, scientists came to the conclusion that they are very young. All 35 light detection younger than 100 million years, and some of them may have an age of about 25 million years. Astronomers do not exclude the possible existence of even more young and bright Cepheids.

Age discovered classical Cepheids is strong evidence for the existence of previously unknown permanent during the last 100 million years, a source of new stars in the center of the Milky Way.
Moreover, by placing the card found Cepheids, experts have traced the outlines of an entirely new structural element of the Milky Way - a thin disk of young stars, crosses the galactic bulge. This new component of our galaxy went unnoticed in previous surveys of the sky, as it was hidden by dense dust clouds.

Scientists have made "an acoustic hologram" in the power beam that can move small objects

Surely you've seen repeatedly hologram having a depth of three-dimensional images that occur above or below the flat surface. This three-dimensional effect arises as a result of "the optical three-dimensional space", which is created by the interaction of diffraction and the rays of light transmitted or reflected from the holographic plate. In essence, this is a three-dimensional structure of the light projected into space with the help of an image recorded on a holographic plate.

Light waves are not the only kind of vibrations that can be controlled and with which you can create in the space of three-dimensional structures for such purposes can be used and sound (acoustic) waves. And, unlike light with sound waves can have a direct impact on small physical structures. Researchers at the Public University of Navarra (Public University of Navarre), Spain created a kind of ultrasonic hologram, which allows you to work on small objects, like a force beam space ship USS Enterprise in a series of science fiction films "Star Trek / Star Trek".

Acoustic effects on material objects are usually created by a plurality of ultrasonic transducer or one aimed at a special reflector. In the space between the two elements formed a standing acoustic wave in the minima and maxima which can be kept small objects. Changing the phase of the ultrasonic wave emitted makes minima and maxima move, dragging the held object. This is quite an interesting technology, but it works only within the space enclosed between the emitter and reflector, and therefore it is less interesting than the technology of "Star Trek."

Acoustic hologram is a method of creating three-dimensional space structures consisting of sound vibrations. In this case, these holograms are 20 by 20 array of ultrasonic transducers reproducing the ultrasound with a frequency of 40 kilohertz. Each transmitter is equipped with a kind of acoustic lens that allows you to "focus" the acoustic waves at a certain height above the surface of the emitter. To create a holographic structure, all emitters generate sound waves with a particular phase and amplitude. The interaction of these waves creates a space in the area with pressure drops that may have an impact on material objects.

Forces of these effects is enough to capture and hold a light foam particle diameter of about 3 millimeters, but the main advantage of this approach is that the hologram system has a second reflecting component, and may act in the surrounding space theoretically without any restrictions. Moreover, the creation of complex holographic "paintings" and move allows you to keep several material objects.

The absence of the second element in such a system before it opens a lot of potential applications in various fields. These speakers' power rays "can be used to control the movement of microscopic instruments inside the human body, which, for example, can break up kidney stones or produce microsurgical operations. Alternatively, such techniques may be used to create a "display material" pixels which will be tiny material objects.

At present, the weight and size of objects that can be manipulated with the help of an acoustic hologram depends on the power of ultrasonic transducers. Therefore, taking a strong emitting device can lift and move objects of great size and weight. Unfortunately, this method is unlikely to happen to move people and other living organisms, they rather their cells can not withstand the harmful effects of strong high-frequency acoustic oscillations.

On Charon discovered a mysterious young crater

Analyzing the new batch of data from the station New Horizons, the scientists found on Charon - Pluto's largest moon - the mysterious crater ammonia. In addition, NASA received a picture crescent dwarf planet. This was reported on the agency's website.

Station New Horizons discovered probably the youngest crater on Charon. He got the name of the Authority and rich frozen ammonia. In 2000, scientists using the Hubble telescope observed on Charon ammonia, but not in such large concentrations.

In the photo provided by NASA, are located next to two identical crater with a diameter of up to five kilometers each, one of which is rich in ammonia (marked in green) and the other (called Skywalker) - no.

The reasons for this difference are not clear to scientists. Experts agree that the first crater appeared relatively recently and is the youngest of Charon. In addition, the researchers point out that ammonia can act as antifreeze and provide cryovolcanism (in the form of eruptions of water and ammonia) on the satellite dwarf planet. Another hypothesis is that the ammonia could be recorded on a satellite falling on its surface asteroid.

A composite picture of the crater obtained July 14, 2015 at a distance of 81 thousand kilometers from Charon using the tool Ralph / LEISA. Image resolution up to five kilometers per pixel. On Earth, these data came on October 1-4. Other data on the crater were obtained using a tool LORRI (Long Range Reconnaissance Imager) and reached the Earth on October 5-6.

Snapshot Crescent received scientific instrument MVIC (Multi-spectral Visible Imaging Camera) from a distance of 18 thousand kilometers away from the dwarf planet. It is made of 14 July 2015 in 15 minutes after closest approach to Pluto station.

The picture, taken at the world in September and treated, noticeable atmospheric haze rocky landscape and profiles of the dwarf planet. On the illuminated side of the plateau much Sputnik, which adjoin the mountain height of 3.5 kilometers, including mountain regions Tenzing and Hillary.

Space probe New Horizons beginning September 5 2015 peak phase of the data obtained on the main stage of research, on 14 July this year, during the next flyby of Pluto and its moons. On the transfer of multiple gigabytes of data will take about a year.

The station is located at a distance of more than 5 billion kilometers from the Earth. It is expected that in 2019 it will reach planetoid 2014 MU69, at a distance of 1.6 billion kilometers from Pluto in the Kuiper belt. This object can send New Horizons after the dwarf planet. The mission of New Horizons is expected to complete in mid-2020s.

The main objective of New Horizons is the study of Pluto and its moon Charon. Scientific equipment installed on it, designed to collect data about the possible presence of the magnetosphere from the dwarf planet, its atmosphere, composition and structure of the surface, as well as on cooperation with Charon.

It disclosed the secret origin of allergies

A group of researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine were able to explain the origin of allergies. Biologists have identified the molecular similarities between proteins cause allergic reactions from food proteins and multicellular parasites. The findings are published in the scientific journal PLOS Computational Biology.

As it turned out, allergic reactions are the wrong response of the immune system to harmless substances from the environment. As we know, the human immune system has been formed in the course of evolution, and its main goal - to counteract diseases carried by parasitic organisms. However, the great strides in medicine, we were able to win the majority of these parasites, the immune system is now mistakenly thinks they are allergic to food or air.

The researchers, led by Nicholas Fernhemom used computational biology techniques to calculate exactly which proteins from organisms parasitic worms can cause similar allergic reactions. It was found that one of these proteins is a part of pollen, which, in turn, is a very common allergen.

"Allergies - is the price humanity pays for the salvation of parasites," - said Dr. Fernhem.

Conclusions Fernhema and his colleagues indirectly confirmed by other studies: for example, the study of leading a primitive way of life of the peoples has shown that living in their bodies bacteria and parasites protect them from many diseases characteristic of modern developed societies. Thus, the loss of intestinal microbes and parasitic worms is one of the factors contributing to autoimmune diseases.

Air farm "dehydrogenase" - the next step in Agriculture after vertical farms. On land, they will look like a huge green blimps put to the side. 30% of their products - seaweed processing of carbon, hydrogen and fuel self-sufficiency. The ocean is planned to start similar sea farm in the case of easily engaging with the air.

10 incredible things that can be done with sound

Sound waves can do incredible things with the practical application of science, art and medicine. In this collection you will find a list of ten such things.

1. Destroy the sound

The company "Orfild Labs" in Minneapolis built the quietest room in the world, it is used to test low noise (hum light bulbs, for example). The walls are completely sound-proof, but the sound level is 9 dB - it is so quiet that you can hear the sounds of their own work of internal organs. This sensory deprivation exacerbates all the senses, causing strange sensations in the body and brain. After spending a long time in this room, you run the risk of schizophrenia or acquire such strange powers, like the ability to feel the color to taste. A man can stand it no more than 45 minutes, then begin hallucinating.

2. To hide the sound of
Have you noticed that when walking through the woods at different times, such as day and night, you hear the sound a little different? If a day like all the noise merge, in the middle of the night every rustle sounded like a shot.
This phenomenon occurs when sound waves change their direction (refracted) due to temperature fluctuations during the diurnal cycle. During the day they go up, where the air temperature is lower and mainly distributed over your head, creating a zone of "acoustic shadow".
The effect is widely used by sailors in the ocean: to escape from the sound vibrations they are hiding in the area of ​​acoustic shadow from enemy sonar.

3. Arm sound
Users are able to turn almost everything into a weapon, even a sound. «The Long Range Acoustic Device» - a device that is used for these purposes. It looks like a darkened floodlight that shoots "beam" the sound volume of about 150 decibels at a distance of tens of meters. Sonic weapons can be used to suppress riots and unrest: the device can cause severe pain and damage health. Sound guns already used in European courts to deter Somali pirates.

4. Sound as Art
Sound waves can be made visible, it is called "Cymatics". For example, if you saw the impact of sound on the tank with sand, sand and stir to create a variety of shapes.
The first who discovered this, Galileo began in 1632, the year. He noticed that if you hold on a plate with fine particles of material cutter, they take the form of parallel lines of grinding.

5. Sound killer
Theoretically, a person can kill the sound pressure, but it looks like it is not, as you imagine. What usually follows a strong explosion overpressure is called - is a huge increase in atmospheric pressure. Some explosions can cause extremely loud noise, which, however, can not be heard, because the eardrums burst at around 160 decibels. But 200 decibels is enough to break the lungs and cause internal damage.
During World War I caused the death of so many questions: because of the lack of the human body visible damage, no one could understand, from which he died. So when you see the scene in the film how the hero, cast off the explosion, easily rises and goes about his business - this is nonsense. In real life, he would have been dead and deaf.

6. Sound helps fight crime
Businessmen and representatives of authorities in some cities in the United States decided to include classical music in the subway in areas with high crime rates. It turns out that the classics can disperse the aggressive teenagers and hooligans from public places - it seems it sounds unpleasant, causing discomfort and forced to leave in search of quiet.
For example, in London in 2003, the year and a half years in the underground included classical music. During this time, vandalism and robberies have decreased by a third.

7. Turn the sound laser
The laser produces a very narrow beam of light capable of moving even in a vacuum as opposed to sound waves requiring mediation environment. The Japanese in 2010 was created audio device capable of emitting a beam of sound - phaser. Its frequency was 170 KHz, and is eight times greater than the human perception threshold. The phaser is used for medical purposes.

8. Sound treats
Device «HIFU Transducer» focuses acoustic energy and emits a tremendous amount of heat, this phenomenon can be compared with a magnifying glass, transmissive sunlight. Professor of surgery at the University of Washington, said: "With this device, you can do all the same thing as using ultrasound." For example, the device is able to "seal" pork punctured lung in two minutes. This is a huge step in the non-invasive surgery.

9. Return to the sound past
One of the most interesting areas of science is arheoakustika - the use of sound in archeology. For example, each room of your house has its own sound, depending on the availability of accessories, furniture and other items. Scientists from the University of Salfold UK decided to learn how to sound Stonehenge. Writing the reflected sound waves from Stonehenge, and then built a computer model, the researchers found that the megaliths create a reflective space, similar to the lecture hall.

10. Sound like a compass
It is known that bats and birds orient themselves in space by means of sound waves, but until recently, scientists could not figure out exactly how the birds are at a great distance the way home. In 1997, geophysicist Jonathan Hastram found that about 60 thousand pigeons are lost during the migration to England from France - the way they crossed the bass sound from the aircraft. Inaudible to the human ear, it greatly disrupted the internal compass of birds. Hagstrom saw that the birds create a unique "sound cards" for navigation, but the objects erected by man, or change their landscape can greatly confuse birds.

It's incredible: 11:00 Elephant saved my baby from the well

This happened in India. Stupid kid fell into the well. Mother hurried to the rescue, I began to drag his proboscis, then legs. But, unfortunately, I made it worse. The well began to crumble the soil - the soil is mixed with water and turns into dirt.
But the elephant continued his hard work.
Over time we come to the aid of the peasants from the surrounding villages. They eventually helped pull the baby. Clearing the ground near the top of the well, they have lowered the level of the soil, and the elephant was able to raise to the surface.
Her persistence paid off. Tired, but happy, she rescued her child from the trap.

Doom Kennedy clan

American Kennedy biographers claim that supposedly still in Ireland, when the founders of the dynasty were rich farmers, head of the family refused to the poor in a piece of bread and pulled the dogs on them. In response, he heard a terrible curse, which is already in the twentieth century was imposed, so to speak, no less terrible.

This curse was connected with Joseph Patrick Kennedy - conceited, rude and literally obsessed with delusions of man power. His favorite phrase was: "One of my sons will become president." His children were supposed to be impeccable in all ...

In 1920, at the Rose and Joseph was born a girl. She was named Rosemary. At first she did not differ from their peers, but over the years it has identified one drawback: it confused the letters.

For Joseph Kennedy, it was a real blow. He found his daughter and the insane, when Rosemary was 21, forced her to the dreaded brain surgery - lobotomy, which doctors have resorted to, as a rule, only at the patient's raving madness.

The operation went very badly: at Rosemary paralyzed left arm, neck muscles stopped listening, and the girl's head hung helplessly to one side. It was a horrible sight! On top of all Rosemary was speechless. And the father has not found anything better than to permanently lock up his daughter in a home for the insane.

The researchers note that it is shortly afterwards on the Kennedy clan attacked numerous misfortunes. In 1944, Joseph Jr., was killed: his plane without good reason exploded over the English Channel.

In the same year, Sister Kathleen lost her husband, an Englishman, Lord Hartington, who was killed during the landing of Allied troops in France. Four years later, killed in a plane crash, and again in France itself Kathleen.

In 1963 again two deaths. Patrick first die, the second son of John F. Kennedy, then a bullet maniac killed in Dallas, and the father - the president of the United States.

"Somebody up there does not like us obviously!" - In the hearts cried Robert Kennedy in 1964. His words proved prophetic: after four years, Senator and candidate for the White House, was killed, as his older brother, another fanatic in Los Angeles.

Senator was accompanied by several television crews, and it so happened that a live broadcast of the assassination saw practically the whole world.

In 1984, in his hotel room in Palm Beach, Florida on the excess doses of the drug died younger son Robert - David.

December 31, 1997, a few hours before the New Year the Kennedy family suffered a new tragedy. 39-year-old Michael Kennedy, the eldest son, Robert, was killed during a skiing trip at the station in Aspen Colorado.

As an experienced skier, he flew off the road and on a steep descent into a tree. Having a serious spinal injury, he was immediately taken to hospital, where he died without regaining consciousness.

And two goda in a plane crash killed the son of John Fitzgerald Kennedy - John F. Kennedy Jr. - with his wife and her sister.

Doom pursued and those with whom the representatives of the Kennedy clan were related. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis became his wife, along with her husband mourned the sudden death of his sister-and the mysterious death of his first wife.

Together they buried favorite son Alexander Onassis, as well as the experienced and attempted suicide Christina Onassis. In the long run, and Jacqueline Onassis and we lost everything they had.

The curse of the Kennedy clan in the United States started talking again in the 2012th. The wife of the nephew of the 35th US president John F. Kennedy - Mary committed suicide. The body of 52-year-old woman was found in a shed in the territory of its estates Bradford in New York. Local newspapers reported that Mary hanged.

Mary and Robert tied the knot in 1994. Many were jealous of Mary Richardson - still, she married the son of Robert Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy, becoming a member of one of the most powerful political and financial clans America!

Mary married life first evolved quite well and she gave birth to four children beloved husband. But then, as was the case with almost all the women in the family Kennedy, Mary learned about the frequent infidelities spouse ended up two years ago, Robert filed for divorce.

Mary began a prolonged depression. She sought access to alcohol and drugs. However, the Kennedy family in every way prevented this information gets into the press.

Mary was not a public person, trying not to "shine" at various parties and receptions. Her name surfaced in the press a few times, but only one belonging to one of the most famous and wealthy families States and the circumstances of the death again led the public to remember the so-called "curse" hanging over the name Kennedy, and some "dark forces", "accompanying "members of the famous family. On this day say even those who do not believe in mysticism.

Dentistry past

You are afraid to go to the dentist? If - yes, these five horror stories for you! You will no longer be afraid of dentists. Just imagine what people did before.

Dentistry Middle Ages

Perhaps the most innocuous procedure for getting rid of tooth pain proposed 400 years ago by German scientist Kardanus. He advised the patient to sit for several hours with his mouth open, turned towards the Moon in the opinion of medieval healer, lunar rays have a beneficial effect on the diseased tooth. A famous scholar Pliny in I century AD recommended to put in the ear with a sick tooth crow or sparrow droppings mixed with oil. But if home treatment is not helping, I had to go to the doctor. However, the ancient Aesculapius were taken to treat dental diseases patients are not on the side where it hurts. In those days, doctors used as a first means of toothache ... enema and laxative. Who lived in the XI century Arab surgeon Abulkazi recommended dentists following sequence: "First of all, the patient give a laxative, starved and on an empty stomach to take frequent baths and doing exercise ... In the absence of effect cauterize a tooth with a hot iron as long as the fire did not penetrate to the the root ... "

Dental worm and the first drill

Our grandparents were convinced that the tooth starts to hurt because it settles "tooth worm" and gnaws a hole. Expel the parasite is not only a hot iron, but also filling the hollow of melted wax, acid ... In 1820, the Frenchman Delabar first used for the treatment of cavities special drills. A half-century later, the United States Morrison invented the dentist drill treadle. Similar designs exist for a long time. The collection Gulin has a record of memories of a school teacher about how is the procedure of dental treatment in the summer military camps in the early 1950s: "They put me in the chair, to which fastened the pedal like a bicycle, and from them the chain is stretched to the drill. Team doctor, "Open your mouth and Pedal! "I wind the, and he told me a tooth drilled. And what is more painful, so I desperately pedal shake. It ended this "cycling" the fact that boron broke and stuck in the tooth ... "

Pulling teeth

When all treatments have been exhausted, it is necessary - to tear! In the old days this was done not by doctors, but "specialists in combination" - the butchers, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, barbers, corn operators ... tools they used the most primitive. And the process is very different from the present strikingly procedure. Put you a barber-surgeon on the floor, will clamp your head between your knees, felt schiptsami- "pelicans" sore tooth and ... However, some "masters" preferred to a patient during surgery was. A certain gentleman was famous in the XVII century in the whole of France that people pull out teeth except sitting on a horse: stronger grabbed tongs tooth, given the horse spurs - and voila! .. From zuboderov famous Russian Emperor Peter the Great: the Emperor always carried Case himself with tools, among which were "pelicans" and very fond of his own vomit unwell teeth at his court.

Dentures

Instead of trying to put the prosthesis removed. Even in IV-III centuries BC. e. wealthy Phoenicians fastened mouth artificial gold wire cutters, carved from ivory. Medieval "prosthetic" fit in the mouth of his patients porcine, canine teeth, and sometimes human. The legendary villain-Saltychikha landowner, trying to regain the "Hollywood smile", forced serf farrier povydergivat teeth just a few yards from the girls to choose from a collection formed the perfect color and shape of a tooth.

First toothpastes

In the old days, and did not neglect preventive measures. Famous Hippocrates in the V century BC. e. It recommended such a remedy to save your teeth and removing halitosis "Burn head rabbit and three mice ... Rub ash with marble in a mortar ... clean the powder teeth and gums, and then wipe the teeth and mouth sweaty fleece spread with honey." Pliny advised as prophylaxis against caries eat bimonthly fried mouse. Simple recipe for outstanding British physician John Monk Gladdesden man should regularly breathe their own excrement. In China, it was considered the best brush your teeth with ashes from burnt monkey head. And the Romans for this hygienic procedure prepared powder from crushed pearls or corals.

Legend of the Wild West Billy the Kid (left) playing croquet, New Mexico, 1878

The uniqueness of this photo is that this is only the second documented, the image of Billy the Kid, one of the symbols of the Wild West.

History finds no less unique. Telecommunications engineer Randy Guidzharro (Randy Guijarro), whose hobby is collecting coins, sports cards and comic books in 2010, wandered into an antique shop in Fresno, California. Shopkeeper encouraged him to explore a couple of boxes of debris, pulling out from a warehouse with a view to their release in the trash. Randy digging, bought three photographs, paying them a ridiculous amount of two dollars, all he had cash in his pocket at the time. Particular attention is drawn Collector image size four to five inches of people playing croquet, (not to be confused with a cricket!). Having carefully studied the image under the microscope, Randy came to the stunning conclusion that the picture depicts William Henry McCarty, better known as Billy the Kid, serenely playing croquet with members of his gang.

After expert analysis for authenticity, the picture has been evaluated in five (!) Million.